High Frequency Rail (HFR)

Mandate:

Transport Canada's (TC) High Frequency Rail (HFR) Group is leading the implementation of the HFR Project for the Government of Canada and supports the Minister of Transport in its role as the Accountable Owner of the HFR Project. The Assistant Deputy Minister, HFR, who acts as the Project Authority for the HFR Project, oversees the TC HFR Group who collaborates with the other federal departments involved in the project, notably Public Services and Procurement Canada and Infrastructure Canada, and the new subsidiary of VIA Rail responsible for delivering the HFR project (VIA HFR – VIA TGF inc.), to move the project forward. Notably, the HFR Group:  

  • Provides direction on the procurement process for the HFR Project;
  • Leads the creation and oversight of VIA HFR – VIA TGF;
  • Coordinates the policy initiatives for the HFR Project; and
  • Provides technical expertise on the design and engineering assumptions and solutions advanced by VIA HFR – VIA TGF.

 

Profile:

Vincent Robitaille

Vincent Robitaille

Assistant Deputy Minister – High Frequency Rail

Bio

Vincent Robitaille - Assistant Deputy Minister – High Frequency Rail

Vincent Robitaille

Vincent Robitaille serves as Assistant Deputy Minister – High Frequency Rail at Transport Canada since December 2021. He leads the integrated team responsible for the development of one of the largest transportation infrastructure projects in Canada since the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

From 2018 to 2021, Vincent served as Director General – Centre of Excellence on Strategic Investments at Transport Canada. He led a team responsible commercial policy elements of major transportation investments, alternative financing arrangements and Covid19 support to the air sector.

Before joining Transport Canada in 2018, he served in senior roles at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Global Affairs Canada, notably leading the P3 procurement of the new Champlain Bridge Corridor in Montréal.

From 2016 to 2019, Vincent volunteered as President of the Canadian Institute for Procurement and Materiel Management.

Vincent holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation, a Certified Director (C. Dir) designation, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Ottawa.

The Assistant Deputy Minister, HFR: Vincent Robitaille

Number of Employees: 59

Directorates:

  • Policy and Governance
  • Technical, Engineering, Impact Assessment and Indigenous Relations
  • Commercial and Procurement

Policy and Governance:

The Policy and Governance Directorate has two main areas of focus. The Policy team is responsible for coordinating HFR policy initiatives for the HFR project. This includes oversight of public interest considerations, alignment with Ministerial and Government-wide priorities, including coordination of any horizontal policy initiatives across the department more broadly. This activity involves coordination of strategic forward planning in support of decision making for HFR policy and the coordination/leading the development of Memoranda to Cabinet, Budget proposals, Treasury Board submissions and other Cabinet documents necessary to support the HFR project. The directorate collaborates with the TC Communications team as the lead for Ministerial communications activities concerning HFR. The directorate also develops public facing messaging, communications materials, and coordinates communication activities with VIA HFR – VIA TGF Inc. (VIA HFR). 

In addition, in partnership with the Governance and Portfolio Management team within the Policy Group, liaises with and ensures oversight of VIA HFR.

Finally, the directorate also manages stakeholder relations and provides direction and leadership on Human Resources and Financial Management matters for the project.

Technical, Engineering, Impact Assessment and Indigenous Relations

The Technical, Engineering, Impact Assessment and Indigenous Relations Directorate is responsible for providing a center of technical expertise that provides analysis and advice to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Deputy Minister and Minister on the design and engineering assumptions and solutions advanced by VIA HFR, proponents, and the eventual private development partner to advance the key initiatives to a successful conclusion of the HFR project.

The directorate is also responsible for leading project components within the direct responsibility of Government of Canada, such as indigenous reconciliation, city access, land acquisition, regulatory requirements; and assessing the economic, social and environmental impacts of the initiative; and advancing the impact assessment process and seeking required regulatory approvals. Further, the directorate provides advice to VIA HFR on the development and management of the detailed work associated with development of the HFR project.

Commercial and Procurement

The Directorate of Commercial and Procurement is responsible for providing leadership and direction to the HFR Project’s procurement process in collaboration with the contracting authority - Public Services and Procurement Canada. Procurement process leadership responsibilities include the development, implementation and execution of the procurement and contracting framework of HFR and associated contracting documents and the engagement and negotiation with bidders during the procurement phase. The directorate oversees the overall bidding process, including the negotiation and the resolution of any issues with bidders. The Directorate also ensures the integrity of the procurement process, such that the HFR Project is demonstrably fair, open and transparent. 

The directorate is also responsible for the financial and commercial aspects of the HFR Project. Working closely with VIA-HFR, it ensures the implementation of the right incentivizes and mechanisms in the deal structure to develop the optimal solution for HFR that protects the public interest and creates value for Canadians. The directorate ensures that the public interest is protected through robust analysis, adequate empirical data and expert judgment are behind the key commercial and financial related decisions for the HFR Project, and that an appropriate level of risk transfer is reflected in the contract structure of the HFR Project.